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Thursday, August 26, 2010

No one child is the same. We know that, right?
We all know everyone is unique,
just like flowers & snowflakes & leaves &
God is so creative like that.

But, when it comes to tailoring our training &
mentorship of our kids to them each individually,
it can get tricky.
What about fairness & equality?
We don't want them to believe we are favoring one over the other.
And there is the truth that we are all human & have much "sameness".
They are all made in God's image.
They are all sinners, in need of a Savior.
They all need to be taught the Truths of God's Word.
They all need to be loved & provided for.

I know many people read this verse differently, but,
my pastor said he believes that when
Proverbs 22:6 says
"train up a child in the way he should go, when he is old he will not depart from it."
It is saying to train your child toward his own individual way, his natural bent.
We should understand our particular child &
encourage them in their God-given strengths.

Thursday, August 19, 2010

I have something to tell you. My baby Moira, doesn't have a baby book.
Nothing. I didn't record her firsts.

(Such a bummer)

Peyton has a book. But, there is very little in there.

To be honest, my recording of Gillian's firsts has not really been that great, either.

Sometimes when I think about it, I feel really guilty.
I wonder if they will be sad about it.
I wonder if I will be sad about it, when they have grown up,
& I don't have a baby book to look back in.
The truth is, memories are not really forever.
We can forget so easily.
And, I really wonder if this is a really bad thing.
I have 3 kids without much baby book stuff recorded.
My baby has nothing.
And, now I have 2 more kids on the way.
(Yes. That's an announcement! I am pregnant. I'm already 16 weeks!
With 1 child. Plus an adopted child on the way. With child- two at a time.)

But, then I wonder -
do any of us really care at what date each different baby tooth popped out?
I don't think I care too much. I hope my kids won't care too much, either.
I want to focus on living & making the memories sweet,
instead of spending my time recording the traditional "firsts".
The "Milestones" are important.
But, I don't really think I care when exactly they happen.
I don't think the date of a milestone is the memory
that I will be wanting to recall when I am old & gray(er).

So, I think I will ditch the traditional baby book idea.
I will get rid of it guilt-free.
And, I will try to record memories that matter to us.
Photos of sweet & funny times.
Home videos where we can hear the patter of the little feet,
and the tininess of the voices.
I want to jot down cute things the kids say.
I want to journal the things that matter to us.
A day in the life of us.
The real stuff.
I think those are the things that will still matter,
when we are all grown up.

Wednesday, August 11, 2010

The most important thing we can do for our kids is pray for them.
Don't you think?
What is your approach? Purposed or spontaneous?
Right now, I don't really have a lot of planned out,
intentional prayer life for my kids.
I want to work on developing that.
I want to write down things to pray for, for each child.
I want to specifically be petitioning for them, for what they need.

Right now, it is generally a spontaneous thing.
"Lord, please give me the right words for her..."
"Please calm her fears"
"Give him patience (Oh, & some patience for me, too!)"

Sometimes a spontaneous prayer is said inside,
sometimes it is aloud.

The other night, we had a sweet meal time prayer,
where Gillian just jumped right in,
praying aloud, right alongside her Daddy.
She had a lot to pray about. And was eager.
It was really beautiful.
Then Scott asked Peyton if he had anything
he wanted to pray about.
"Yes." And his prayer was for us to be kind.

I was thanking God for our little blessings.
What a special gift to hear a little one talk to Jesus.

Tell us about your prayer life for your kids.
Do you plan it & how?
Is it usually spontaneous?

Tuesday, August 3, 2010

I've been reading a lot stuff across the web about cults.
And, people who are claiming to reveal the dark side of various doctrines.
I am grieved to see so many Christians who are making it their mission
to point fingers at other Christians.
We need to speak truth & point people to Christ.
Why are so many focused on dragging fellow Christians through the mud?
Is it easier to point the finger at a group of people & call them names,
than "looking to yourself, lest you too be tempted"?

Are the Ezzos "cult" leaders, because they have a large "following"?
Does a church become a cult, because people are hesitant to leave?
Are families cults, if they are tight-knit & value the leadership of the father?
Read this very thoughtful blog post by the Protestant Knight,calling us to be careful on who we call a cult.
It might just come back around to bite you, too.

What about exposing the "dark side"?
If there are wicked people who abuse & control their children,
and also homeschool them,
does that prove the "dark side" of homeschooling?
If there are wicked men who abuse & treat their wife with condescension,
and also say their are part of the Patriarchy movement,
does that expose a dark side of the doctrine?
If there are child molesters masquerading as priests in the Catholic church,
does that prove a darkness to celibacy?

I would say, "NO"!
I am not saying that I believe all the doctrines or ideas or groups to be correct.
But, are they to blame for people's sin?
People sin & sin wickedly & identify with may different groups & ideas.
We could therefore end up exposing the "dark side" of everything.
Where does it end? What is the point?
Why don't we just expose untruth & sin?

Be gracious. Not just to a person's face. But also online.
Remember that what you write online, can't be taken back.

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About Me

I love Jesus. I love my family. I love flowers & kids. I love blustery days & sunshine. I love champagne & coffee. I love dark chocolate & homemade pizza.
I have a wonderful husband. We have 4 sweet babies here; and our first baby, who had Anencephaly, is with Jesus.
We are now waiting for adoption referral for another little person!